A new 10-bed drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit be built in Goulburn to service the region, Liberal candidate Wendy Tuckerman is promising.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Health Minister Brad Hazzard visited the city on Wednesday to announce the unit and an associated day rehabilitation program for residents to access from their home.
Mr Hazzard said $4.5 million would be allocated to provide the "intensive service" over the next three years.
Ms Tuckerman told The Post that residents had raised concerns with both outgoing Member Pru Goward and herself about the need for such a service.
"There was also concern raised at the recent Youth Council's Meet the Candidates night," she said.
“...By providing these services close to home, people will be able to get the help they need whilst maintaining support from family and friends, which can be crucial to recovery.”
The 10-bed unit and rehab program would service the entire Southern Tablelands.
The Bourke Street Health Service is pegged to accommodate the new unit but it's not clear yet specifically where it will be located or the cost.
Ms Tuckerman said Mandala House was a possibility but details would not be known until the expression of interest process was complete. Arrangements for administration staff currently located there would be made, if necessary.
Ms Tuckerman said she expected the service to be operational by 2020-21.
The Southern NSW Local Health District has promised that no services would be shifted from Bourke Street until the Goulburn Base Hospital redevelopment was completed. This is expected to be in late 2021.
The unit and program would be put out to an expression of interests for a private provider to deliver. This would also determine the cost of both the unit and the program. More details on the EoI will reportedly be made available in coming weeks.
Mr Hazard said there was a great need for such services in regional NSW.
“The government recognises that regional, rural and remote NSW communities are strong and resilient, yet they continue to experience significant demand for alcohol and drug services,” he said in a statement.
“By locating this service in Goulburn, we hope to reduce the requirement for people to have to travel long distances to get the help they need.”
This year's budget has allocated $225.3 million towards alcohol and drug services.
Meantime, Labor candidate for Goulburn Dr Ursula Stephens said she welcomed the announcement.
She told The Post she was earlier involved in the local Drug Action Team's push for such a facility but stepped away once endorsed as a candidate so as not to "politicise the issue."
The Team lodged a submission to the Minister early last year for the use of Mandala House at St John's for a larger facility. This followed an urgent call from the community and police on the back of several ice forums.
"I want to see this happen because the model developed by the Team is a sound one. Ice addiction is an insidious thing to manage and it needs long-term management," she said.
Labor has promised funding for six drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres, four of those to be located in regional NSW.
Dr Stephens said she would work hard with police and agencies to secure one for this area, given that there none in the southern region.
While you're with us…
Did you know the Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.